This blog explores the American Revolution and contemporary lessons to be drawn from it.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The War in the Caribbean

I have commented previously on the Battle of Nassau in the Bahamas as part of the war in the Caribbean. It must be remembered that the Revolutionary War involved more than the British, French and Americans; Spain was also an ally of the Americans and opposed to the British. The Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro (Morro Castle), was designed and built in the 16th century, and saw action during the French and Indian War. On August 13, 1762, following a 42 day seige, 14,000 British soldiers successfully attacked the fort and Havana. It was returned to the Spanish after the war.

The American ship, Alliance, commanded by John Barry, sailed past Morro Castle in January 1783. His orders were to pick up gold and transport it to Philadelphia. He made Havana on January 31, 1783, finding another American ship, Duc de Lauzun, in Havana harbor with the same orders, and already in possession of the gold. They left the port--sailing these waters in the image--and ended up in battle with the British off what is now Cape Canaveral, Florida.